A SHOPKEEPER has been ordered to pay £845 in fines and costs after being caught selling booze to under-age youngsters.

Kathiramalai Chandrakumar recently pleaded guilty to two charges of selling alcohol to 15-year-olds.

The proprietor and premises licence holder of the Penycae Convenience Store in Penycae, near Wrexham, was fined a total of £750 with £80 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Wrexham magistrates decided not to suspend his licence but warned it could happen in future if further offences were reported.

The prosecution was brought by Wrexham County Borough Council and related to two incidents.

The court was told that on May 11 last year, two male 15-year-old test purchase volunteers bought two 70cl bottles of Red Square Vodka mix drink containing 5.1% alc.

They were taking part in a test purchasing exercise organised by Wrexham County Borough Council’s trading standards division and North Wales Police.

It was part of a campaign to tackle sales of alcohol to under-age children by targeting premises that had been the subject of complaints.

The sale was made by Rasika Perera who received an £80 fixed penalty ticket.

The second incident on June 22 was witnessed by and investigated by a Police Community Support Officer in Penycae who issued a further £80 fixed penalty ticket to Mr Perera.

It was after a 16-year-old youth bought a bottle of White Ace Cider (7.5% alc) from him.

Mr Chandrakumar was not present when either incident occurred.

Chief housing and public protection officer Andy Lewis said “Owners and licensees of off licences must ensure that their staff have adequate training to prevent underage sales and that the staff are following their instructions.

“This is another good result for trading standards staff and North Wales Police working in partnership to prevent alcohol from being sold to children.

“Under-age drinking puts the health of our young people at risk.

“We will continue to seek prosecution against shop licensees who ignore our warnings.”

The trading standards division were able to increase the level of test purchasing as a result of funding from the Community Safety Partnership for a part time officer .